Tag: Democrats

The 2016 general election was bad for Democrats, and we lost, and we lost big. We lost control of both houses of Congress and the presidency. Here in Iowa, we lost control of the House and Senate again.

Many people feel down and want to give but we cannot. Now is the time to stand up and fight back. Now is the time to create real change in the Democratic Party.

Moving forward, I believe that we must listen to the voices of the youth, which are the next generation of Democrats. We must work to bring in new people into our party and gain the trust of those first-time caucus and primary voters who voted for Sen. Bernie Sanders but then left the party when they felt that their voices were unheard and their opinions were not valued in the general election.

Therefore, we must elect new leadership and hold people accountable at all levels. This is why I am supporting Blair Lawton for Iowa Democratic Party (IDP) Chair.

Blair is a campaign staffer who has worked on the Obama, Sanders, and Mowrer campaigns.

This election showed that the IDP needs a renewed focus on building the party from the grassroots up. To me, that means getting serious about organizing in rural areas. It means contesting every legislative race, as well as spending less time courting big donors and more time cultivating donations from grassroots activists – said Blair Lawton.

I support Blair for Chair because he has a history of being a professional campaign organizer and he knows how to bring people together. This is what we need to rebuild our party and to start winning elections again.

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I am opposed to the President’s trade deal, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), and I urge you all to oppose it too.

Join me in speaking out and let’s STOP FAST TRACK! Visit this website to learn how to best use your voice:stopfasttrack.com

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)would grant broad powers to multinational companies operating in North America, South America, and Asia. A total of 12 nations. TPP would allow companies and investors to challenge regulations, rules, government actions and court rulings – federal, state, or local – before tribunals organized under the World Bank or the United Nations. Thus far, TPP is supported by corporate Democrats, Republicans and various businesses. The trade deal would even allow multinational companies to sue in the United States and elsewhere. Therefore, the overall priority of TPP is to protect corporate interest at the cost of the consumers.

“Multinational corporations are increasingly realizing this is an opportunity to gut U.S. regulations they don’t like,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) in an interview with POLITICO.

These corporations will be able to do this because of the Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) within the TPP. ISDS would allow foreign companies to challenge U.S. laws – potentially to pick up huge payout from the taxpayers – without ever stepping into a U.S. court. Moreover, from 1959 to 2002, there were about 100 ISDS claims worldwide. However, in 2012, there were 58 cases. Two recent cases include a Swedish company that sued Germany because Germany decided to phase out nuclear power after Japan’s Fukushima disaster, and a Dutch company that sued the Czech Republic because the Czechs didn’t bailout a bank that the company partially owned.

“Conservatives who believe in U.S. sovereignty should be outraged that ISDS would shift power from American courts, whose authority is derived from our Constitution, to unaccountable international tribunals,” said Sen. Warren (D-MA) in the Washington Post.

With more and more progressives coming out against the TPP, pro-TPP Democrats are combating our arguments by being dismissive of them, and especially of Senator Warren by saying that she has been stoking unrealistic fears. One of these pro-TPP Democrats said, “Throwing out ISDS based on trade opponents’ nightmare scenarios would be like tearing down the entire U.S. judicial system because someone sued Starbucks over spilling hot coffee.”

Another Democrat opposed to the TPP Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) had this to say, “It seems to indicate that savvy, deep-pocketed foreign conglomerates could challenge a broad range of laws we pass at every level of government, such as made-in-America laws or anti-tobacco laws. I think people on both sides of the aisle will have trouble with this.”

The TPP gets even better, under it, a member nation could be forbidden from favoring “goods produced in its territory.” Meaning that “every asset that an investor owns or controls, directly or indirectly, that has characteristic of an investment,” including, “regulator permits; intellectual property rights; financial instruments such as stocks and derivatives; construction management, production, concession, revenue-sharing and other similar contracts; and licenses, authorization, permits and similar rights conferred pursuant to domestic law.”

“You now have specialized law firms being set up. You go to them, tell them what country you’re in, what regulation you want to go after, and they say ‘we’ll do it on contingency,’” said Lori Wallach, director of Global Trade Watch and an opponent of the TPP.

For example, in 2013, Eli Lilly took advantage of a similar provision under NAFTA to sue Canada for $500 million, accusing Ottawa of violating its obligations to foreign investors by allowing its courts to invalidate patents for two of its drugs.

It has been reported that the Obama administration hopes the Trans-Pacific Partnership will be a centerpiece accomplishment of his second term. The officials also claim they are confident in passage of both TPA and TPP, however with largely Republican support and just some Democrats. The administration is asking Congress to “fast-track” the TPP, meaning that lawmakers wouldn’t be able to amend the deal, only vote up or down on what the administration negotiates.

President Barack Obama had this to say on the TPP, “I have fought my entire political career and as president to strengthen consumer protections. I have no intention of signing legislation that would weaken those protections.”

Even so, many progressives including myself cannot stand the TPP, they make up the organized left (trade unions, environmentalists, human rights, etc.).

Conversely, a group that calls themselves “Progressive Coalition for American Jobs” claim to be progressive and supports the TPP. They say they are a group of “progressives and Democrats committed to leveling the playing field for American workers,” according to their website. It goes on to say, “It’s critical that we give the president trade promotion authority and establish the Trans-Pacific Partnership.”

Excuse me? Progressive?

“Who are they? Are they getting paid? And this group will convince anybody of what?” asks Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH).“There is zero progressive interest in this [TPP].”

Progressive Coalition for American Jobs (PCAJ) includes some of the most senior members of President Obama’s former campaign team. Daily Kos reported Mitch Stewart, former aide the president asked to run Organizing for America (OFA), and Lynda Tran, the former OFA press secretary. Earlier this month, a press release from 270 Strategies announced the campaign firm started by Stewart and President Obama’s former field director, Jeremy Bird.

This is very upsetting for me personally as a former OFA member and as a supporter of President Obama.

“If you look at the progressives – labor unions, activists, online organizations – who are lined up against the TPP, there are no credible groups left to build a ‘coalition,’” said an aide to a progressive House member. Even House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi doesn’t seem to support the TPP, as she privately cautioned her members to keep their powder dry in order to negotiate the most liberal deal possible.

Candice Johnson, spokesperson for the Communications Workers of America said on PCAJ, “It’s insulting.” She went on to say, “You put progressive in your name and that’s going to convince people?”

“At this point, 270 Strategies is well known for its AstroTurf efforts to slap a progressive label to the endeavors of Wall Street Wing Democrats and their corporate masters, but this is an earth-shattering new low,” Neil Sroka, spokesperson for Democracy for America.“You can be a progressive committed to fighting for working families or you can be for this massive job-killing trade deal written by 500 corporate reps, but you can’t be both.”

PCAJ was asked about who funds the group and who the members are. Tran, the former Obama aide wouldn’t answer any of those questions. She did say, “We won’t be hosting rallies or organizing major field activities.” Instead she said they will focus on helping “get the word out” on President Obama’s trade deals.

“There is a progressive case to be made for this and I think the goal of this group [PCAJ] is to say, ‘There’s more than one kind of progressive out there with a message on trade’ and what hasn’t been heard,” said an aide to a member in the New Democratic coalition who has been working with the PCAJ.

The White House has been asked about the group, and a spokesperson said that the administration “welcomed” the group’s input. The spokesperson added, “It’s not surprising that groups that share this commitment have decided to add their voice to the discussion, and we welcome their input.”

Image found on google

A top progressive consultant in Washington, D.C., Mike Luz, wrote in an email on PCAJ and TPP, “Every progressive group and sector that works on economic issues – labor, consumer groups, enviros, the online groups, civil rights groups, human rights groups, you name it – is vehemently against TPP, so I don’t know what progressives are in this group’s coalition.”

Based on all of the above and additional resources, I believe I am better able to understand the TPP. Therefore, I stand against it, and I ask you all to join me in speaking out against this terrible “trade agreement.” I believe that President Obama does wish the best for our nation, however he is most definitely wrong when it comes to the TPP.

Join me in speaking out and let’s STOP FAST TRACK! Visit this website to learn how to best use your voice: stopfasttrack.com

In the United States, our politics on both sides of the aisle is not on the side of young Americans. Republicans claim the only way to grow the economy and secure a future for young Americans is to cut our domestic spending programs. Democrats claim the only way to grow the economy and secure the future for young Americans is to continue the same old policies pushed forth again and again. In the end, everything stays the same.

Here’s the facts from the past 40 years via the Social Security Administration (SSA). SSA found that a typical employee, has the largest income gains between the ages of 25 and 35. However, the unemployment rate of 18 and 34 years old peaked at more than 13% in 2010 (doesn’t include underemployment or discouraged workers). While the average income increase for median earners fell to zero between the ages of 35 and 55. Finally, they found that incomes decline (“negative growth”) between ages 45 and 55.

During the recession, lower-wage industries constituted 22% of losses, but 44% recovery growth and higher-wage industries constituted 41% of recession losses, however only 30% of recovery growth, noted by the National Employment Law Project. this caused an economic and perhaps even social crisis for young Americans are trying to enter or attempt to enter the workforce. Many of these young Americans are trying to get their first job to use their money to sustain themselves as they face the many challenges they have thrust upon them once they graduate high school. Many of them even use these jobs to help pay for their own education or to feed themselves while they are enrolled in college.

Now, they are not getting these jobs. Instead they are going to the people who before the recession were in middle-wage and higher-wage industries. These were people who had already made a life for themselves in many cases. Leading to young Americans with no avenue to work to start their lives to those who had good jobs now taking the jobs that use to go to young Americans just starting out.

Now, looking specifically at the jobs that were lost during the recession, Pew Research Center made some great points. the largest declines were in specialty trade contractors, construction 319, 800 jobs and local government, education 266,800 jobs. The largest gains have been in health care 1,481,400 jobs and food services and drinking places 1,385,400 jobs. Looking at these numbers you may notice that the second largest growing industry post-recession is also one of the industries that has the lowest pay and the least benefits for their employees.

Another striking statistic, is the total amount of student debt owed, $1.3 trillion. Even further, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average amount owed for each graduate has risen from less than $10,000 in 1993 to more than $30,000 in 2013. With the bottom 25% of households owing 58% of student debt and the top 10% owing only 3%, according to the Pew Research Center.

Republican Message:

The new Congress is controlled by the Republican Party (GOP) and they could act on these issues and take meaningful actions. Instead, they seem to be focused on repealing Obamacare (ACA), rollback of immigration reform, and destroy agencies that protect the environment, consumers, workers, and taxpayers.

Specifically, on immigration the U.S. House took a vote of 236-191 on funding the Department of Homeland Security to February 27, until President Obama reverses his executive order on undocumented immigrants. The vote was poised at killing the President’s effort to enforce policies that limited deportations of people who aren’t criminals or serial immigration violators. One amendment to that bill even went as far as ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. DACA stopped over 600,000 young undocumented immigrants from being deported and allowed them to work legally.

Progressive Confront:

Progressives have a plan to confront the Republican’s and the Democrat’s standard. The progressive plan is to regulate Wall Street, transform the U.S. global tax and trade policies (oppose TTP), enforce a progressive tax rate, curb perverse CEO compensation policies, revive anti-trust, equal pay for equal work, raise the minimum wage, paid sick leave, free community college (President Obama’s plan), 21st century infrastructure (President Obama’s plan), end the outrageous amounts of money in politics (Citizens United), and take advantage of the Green Energy Industrial Revolution.

The plan includes supporting progressive legislators. Thus, people who disagree with the status quo should stand with U.S. Senators taking the lead on these policies such as Sen. Sherrod Brown, Sen. Jeff Merkly, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Elizabeth Warren. It also means standing with the Congressional Progressive Caucus in the U.S. House, who are driving the same ideas.

Fundamental change comes only when the oppressed make it impossible to sustain the old order. – Robert Borosage, Campaign for America’s Future

In Mika’s Opinion:

Young Americans are our future, thus politics needs to take a major turn towards that which will benefit them. Right now, young Americans are turned off by both political parties.

Why? Could it be that both political parties have not spent much time focusing on the needs of young Americans? Could it be that both political parties are stuck in their same old ways, pushing their same old proposals?

This is why I believe in the progressive plan, the plan for our future, that includes and focuses on young Americans. That recognizes the need to take a turn and make changes. The plan includes some of the old proposals that are still relevant for today but recognizes that we are in the 21st century and need 21st century solutions. The progressive plan even will tackle social issues that many young Americans want to see dealt with. Many of these issues are not even seen as issues by many young Americans but are for older Americans and still are being debated within the two major political parties, which also turns off young Americans

It’s time we realize that immigration isn’t a side issue, it’s a national priority.

It’s time we realize that women’s issues are not side issues but a national priority.

It’s time we realize that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA) rights are not side issues but a national priority.

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Post-Election: Progressive Values Needed

Image by the Times.

This past election in November did not go the way many progressive Democrats would have liked. I know I am one of many who were deeply disappointed in the results along with the voter turnout. Specifically in Iowa, nearly all of our candidates lost.

The Iowa House stayed in the control of the Republicans and the Iowa Senate fortunately took another seat and is Democratic plus one. Federally, the House will have nearly a super majority of Republicans (250) and the Senate will be in the control of the Republicans (55).

Thus, it is very difficult as a progressive Democratic, and especially to be positive about this last election.

However, if you look at the states you might see a different story. For instance, in the two states where ‘Personhood’ amendments were on the ballot they were rejected. They were not simply rejected, but by wide margins. The amendments were on the ballots in Colorado and North Dakota. Colorado voters rejected ‘Personhood’ by about 64% to 36% and North Dakota by 64.1% to 35.9%. In Colorado this was the third time voters took the issue up and rejected it. It lost in 2008 and 2010.

In addition, progressive policies such as raising the minimum wage, paid sick days, and paid family and medical leave were approved by the voters in the states. In all five (Alaska, Arkansa, Nebraska, Illinois, South Dakota, and the District of Columbia (D.C.)) states and D.C. that had the minimum wage on the ballot, it passed. In Massachusetts, Oakland, California, and Montclair and Trenton, New Jersey voters approved paid sick days.

It is my belief that with these results and the results of polls such as the poll by the National Partnership for Women & Families and the Rockefeller Family Fund that one of the major faults in the 2014 campaigns is the lack of positions and debate of policies that promote economic security for families. To be specific, I mean paid sick days, paid family and medical leave, fair pay, such as the Paycheck Fairness Act, and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act.

The poll found that 81% of voters said it is important for lawmakers to consider new laws that help keep working families economically secure. With 57% indicating that it is “very important” that they do so. Additional key findings indicate that there are strong support for family friendly policies across party and demographic lines. Such as 96% of Democrats, 73% of Republicans, 87% of women, 75% of men, 95% of voters under 30, 97% of African Americans, and 95% of Latinos. In addition, of all candidates running for Governor, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House only 23% featured their positions on these policies.

It is my opinion that a part of the reason so many of the Democrats lost is because the campaigns seemed to be focused around what we are not but forgetting to run on what we are for. I felt that many Democrats did not have a backbone when it came to Democratic Party principles. It seemed as though many candidates were running campaigns saying,

“Hey, I’m a Democrat, vote for me because I’m a Democrat.”

I also felt campaigns telling people to just fall in line and vote for a party instead of the candidate. That is not something voters under 30 like to hear and will turn them off. I felt that the way some of these so-called coordinated campaigns were run didn’t do a good job at relating to the people in their community and acknowledging them, which in turn may have led to the lack of youth and minority interest.

Most importantly, I believe the problem was not having strong progressive platforms on women’s and family issues and standing strong for those positions, defending them, and making them public.

Many of these issues have have broad support and are winnable. Not to forget how vital they are to the working class and families to ensure their economic security. This area is one that the Democratic Party can and must improve on. These policies have even been instituted by nearly every industrialized nation in the world except the U.S. (NYTimes) Not to mention, how ensuring our candidates include them and support them proudly could motivate young adults to be more interested in our candidates. For they could feel and see them fighting for their needs as many of them would currently apply.

This election coming up in the fall is important.There is a lot at stake! The election is all about giving America a chance to move forward or backwards. We as Americans have a choice. Do we want to continue on the path where our nation continues to do nothing and go from brink of shutdown to brink of shutdown because the Republican controlled U.S. House refuses to work?Do we want to continue to let the radical Tea Party Republicans block common sense immigration reform, increasing the minimum wage, and universal background checks? If yes, then vote for the Regressive Party (Republicans). If no, stand with me and vote for the Progressive Party (Democrats) who want to move our nation forward for our children and future generations.

Bruce Braley for U.S. Senate

I will be supporting Bruce Braley for United States Senate because we cannot let our nation fall back, we cannot let down our military and veterans, and we cannot let down the hardworking middle class. In addition, we cannot let radical Republicans tear our nation apart and destroy civil rights. I know Bruce Braley will be a leader in the U.S. Senate to stop the radical Republican agenda.

Bruce has represented Iowa in the U.S. House since 2007, where he worked to promote policies that strengthen and expand the middle class and help create the environment for job creation. Bruce wrote a tax cut for businesses that hire unemployed workers; helping an estimated, 100,000 Iowans get back to work. He worked to create a job-training program for Iowans who wanted to get a new job in the field of renewable energy.

Bruce supports raising the federal minimum wage to $10.10 per hour and tying it to the rate of inflation.

Bruce is a cosponsor of the Paycheck Fairness Act, which will strengthen protections against wage discrimination.

Bruce is a huge supporter of LGBTQIA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual) equality. He supports ENDA (Employment Non-Discrimination Act) along with many other equality bills and is a member of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus.

While in Congress, he voted to repeal the discriminatory policy, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

While in Congress, he voted for an amendment that would ban the federal government from preventing states from legalizing the use of medical marijuana.

While in Congress, he voted to ban the National Security Agency (NSA) from collecting records under the PATRIOT Act.

Staci Appel for U.S. House

I will be supporting Staci Appel this fall for United States House of Representatives for Iowa Third Congressional District. If Staci wins, she will make history as being the first woman to represent Iowa in Congress. Staci’s opponent is a radical Republican who is against all things progressive, which is complete opposite of Staci.

Staci Appel has fought for the middle class in the Iowa State Senate. She had a steadfast commitment to the people she served and Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal (my current State Senator) took notice,”I have never seen a freshman legislator come to the capitol and work as hard as Staci Appel.” Staci worked on legislation that included Iowa’s statewide smoking ban, preschool for every 4 year old and she even championed the bill making Iowa the first state in the nation to require equal pay for equal work. Staci even has the endorsements of EMILY’s List, Women’s Campaign Fund, and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund.

Staci Appel voted to pass many progressive bills in the Iowa State Senate:

(HF 2539) Health Care Expansion Plan – Allows people under the age of 25 or enrolled as full-time students to be covered by their parents insurance and requires every child 12 years or under who receives medical assistance to receive dental assistance. (Before Obamacare)

(HF 653) Election Day Voter Registration – Allows Iowans to register to vote on the same day as the election using identification including driver’s licenses.

(SF 427) Full State Equality – Bans discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in public accommodations, education, employment, and housing, and includes creditors and insurance companies.

It is important for progressives to take back the U.S. House from the radical Republican Party and keep the U.S. Senate. If we don’t our great nation will head down a dangerous path where the wealthiest Americans and corporations will continue to buy America and control where our nation goes. They believe in exclusion and elitism. They believe in speaking and working for the interests of the corporations and the wealthiest Americans and not as the nation as a whole. They stand for cuts to programs that help the middle class and working poor. They especially stand for cuts to social security, medicare, and food stamps. They also want to further cut funding to live-saving research like stem cell research. they believe in amending our nation’s constitution to ban equal human rights for LGBTQIA people. They want to take women’s reproductive rights away and give those rights and choices to the politicians. This what you are letting happen if you don’t vote for progressives like Bruce Braley and Staci Appel.

Jack Hatch for Iowa Governor

This fall I will support Jack Hatch for Iowa Governor because I believe Iowa needs a fresh start and I believe Jack Hatch will bring that to the Governor’s office. Jack served five terms in the Iowa State House, served as U.S. Senator Tom Harkin’s State Director, and this year completed his third term in the Iowa State Senate.

Jack Hatch has been a leading progressive voice in Iowa from health care reform to environmental protection and has written some of the most significant legislation of the past three decades in Iowa, including the following:

Jack Hatch supports raising the Iowa minimum wage to $10.10, because he believes no one who works full-time should live in poverty. Jack also recognizes that most Iowans who are in minimum-wage households are women and children. Jack wants to give Iowa’s hardworking middle class families a tax break. Jack also feels strongly about reducing college debt and creating vocational training in skilled occupations. His plans would allow students to cut debt by finishing school in three years and would provide a low-interest loan to the neediest families.

Brad Anderson for Iowa Secretary of State

I will support Brad Anderson this fall for Iowa Secretary of State. I support Brad Anderson because Iowa needs a change in the office. Iowa needs someone who will do the job instead of focusing on partisan politics.

“Iowa has a proud reputation for civic participation, but there is always room to improve when it comes to voter turnout. I believe the time has come for Iowa to take the reins as number one in the nation in voter turnout, and I have a plan to get us there within the next decade.” – Brad Anderson

Simplify the Vote by Mail Process: Anderson supports allowing voters to sign up to vote-by-mail and check a box to automatically receive a ballot in the mail every election.

Online Voter Registration: Online voter registration has proven to be secure and save local auditors’ time and taxpayers money.

Create and Promote an Election Info Hub: Work with local auditors to provide a one-stop Election Information Hub for voters to check on accurate dates, times and polling locations for local and statewide election.

Reduce Number of Elections: Reduce voter fatigue and apathy by reducing the number of elections. Combining many small elections into larger elections.

Do No Harm: “Rather than chipping away at our voting laws and passing expensive, unnecessary bills that would make it more difficult for Iowans to vote, as Secretary of State I will devote our time and resources to finding ways to strengthen the integrity of our elections and get more Iowans to turnout for our elections.” – Brad Anderson

“New Businesses created in Iowa will help us grow our economy and bring jobs to our state, so it is incredibly important that we have a business filing system that is welcoming, affordable and efficient. My goal is simple – a new business should be able to log into the Secretary of State’s website and easily file their paperwork and pay the filing fee in under ten minutes.” – Brad Anderson

Create an Online Checklist to help New Business Owner Determine which Filing is Needed for their Business

Create an Online Filing Template for New Business Owners

Pay Online

Sherrie Taha for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture

I am supporting Sherrie Taha for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture this fall. Sherrie was elected and currently serves as a Commissioner for the Polk County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD). She has served as the Recording Secretary/Treasurer for ATU Local 441 and on the Board of the League of Women Voters Metropolitan Des Moines.

Sherrie Taha believes as I do that it is Iowa’s responsibility to manage and care for our natural resources for future generations and ourselves. She recognizes that soil and water are fundamental to our lives and we cannot live without them. This is why Sherrie believes that it is vital we protect our water and soil from polluters.

Sherrie Taha also recognizes that Iowa agriculture is heavily focused on feed and fuel, which is why she believes we need to include food production in Iowa instead of importing our food.

Jon Neiderbach for Iowa State Auditor

I am supporting Jon Neiderbach this fall for Iowa State Auditor because Iowa needs an Auditor that actually does the job. The current Auditor for some reason did not see any of the corruption in the Governor’s offices.

Jon Neiderbach graduated from Grinnell College with a B.A. in Political Science in 1978 and went to the University of Oregon. Jon worked for 15 years at the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau, which provides fiscal, and policy information and analysis for legislators. He also worked for 15 years as a Management Analyst for the Iowa Department of Human Services.

Jon Neiderbach plans do to do thorough audits, complete audits, fight for transparent government, and listen to Iowans.

“Iowa law requires that every audit address not just finances but also assess a government entity’s efficiency, effectiveness, and whether it operates in a business-like manner, yet the current State Auditor rarely does this. As your State Auditor, I will ask tough questions about spending and efficiency, and will require every unit of Iowa government to develop and report on real measures of program effectiveness.” – Jon Neiderbach

Michael Fitzgerald for Iowa State Treasurer

I am supporting Michael Fitzgerald for Iowa State Treasurer. Michael is the current State Treasurer. He is active on several national organizations including the College Savings Plans Network, National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers, and Treasurers, National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators, and State Debt Management Network.

Michael Fitzgerald was born in Marshalltown, Iowa. He went to the University of Iowa where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Prior to being elected State Treasurer in 1982, he worked as a marketing analyst for Massey Ferguson Company in Des Moines for eight years.

Tom Miller for Iowa State Attorney General

I am supporting Tom Miller for Iowa Attorney General. Tom is Iowa’s current Attorney General and has done a great job! He has a reputation for integrity, high quality legal work and strong work on behalf of ordinary Iowans.

Tom Miller was born in Dubuque, Iowa. He went to Loras College in 1966 and received his law degree from Harvard Law School in 1969. After law school, Tom served as legislative assistant to U.S. REpresentative John C. Culver (D-IA). He has served as legal education director with Baltimore Legal Aid, and taught part-time at the Maryland School of Law. In 1973, he returned to Iowa, opened a Law practice and served as city attorney of McGregor and Marquette, Iowa, and first ran for Attorney General in 1974.

Tom Miller is serving his eighth four-year term as Iowa State Attorney General. He has a long record of achieving results through cooperation with other State Attorneys General and with Attorneys General (NAAG) committees and led major multi-state working groups working on tobacco issues, antitrust enforcement, agriculture, and consumer protection. He is well known for his work to prevent crime and assist crime victims to protect consumers, and to be an advocate for people.

Marti Nerenstone for Iowa State House

I am supporting Marti Nerenstone for Iowa State Representative House District 16. Marti is a Veteran and she is an attorney who emphasizes on the rights of children and adults who may not otherwise have access to legal representation. Marti has served as the president of the Iowa Organization of Women Attorneys, and in 2011, she became president of the Pottawattamie county Bar Association.

Marti Nerenstone will promote economic opportunities for every Iowan. She supports education at all levels. She is an advocate for access to affordable quality health care, especially mental health services. She will promote and protect Iowa’s natural resources and environment. She is an advocate and defender of equal rights for every Iowan.

[All messaging in this post is not authorized by any political party, candidate, or candidates committee.]